Panic in Bayelsa community as Shell’s facility spill pollutes water

There was anxiety among the residents of Agbura community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State as the pipeline belonging to oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), leaked and discharged a large volume of crude into the river and other sources of drinking water.

According to indigenes of the community, the spill has impacted negatively on the people of the area, including the nearby Otuokpoti community in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.

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Daily Trust reporter, who visited the community, observed that the spill was discovered in the early hours of Wednesday when they noticed a large volume of crude oil flowing on the rivers.

An indigene of the area, Mrs Vivian Kasikoro, said the affected pipeline was rusty, old, poorly maintained and long overdue for replacement.

She said: “The spillage contaminated the water supply of the communities around, the rivers where most residents fish and it caused overall pollution and degradation of the environment.

“Since the incident occurred, Shell has not made any effort to intervene in the damage caused by their pipeline.

“I want to call on the federal and state government to put in place measures to ameliorate the effects of the spillage being experienced by the local communities.”

‘Spill, a death sentence’

Also, Chairman of Otuokpoti Community Development Committee (CDC), Azibalua Amon, the councillor representing Ward II in the Ogbia Legislative Assembly, Hon. Onem Miracle, and High Chief Don-Evarada Abednego, condemned the attitude of oil multinationals operating in the area.

They described the spill as a death sentence since the community lacks basic amenities such as a healthcare facility and portable drinking water.

On his part, an environmental activist, and head of Environmental Rights Action, (ERA), Yenagoa field office, Alagoa Morris, described it as a major spill and called on the regulators to swing into action to contain the situation with an immediate cleanup exercise.

The Media Relations Manager of Shell Nigeria, Mr Bamidele Odugbesan, regretted the incident in a press statement on Friday.

He said: “At about 8.30 am on 31 March 2021, a community surveillance vendor reported a leak on The Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited (SPDC) Joint Venture pipeline at Nun River in Bayelsa State, following which the facility was shut down and full isolation established at 09.45 am.

“The SPDC Oil Spill Response Team was mobilised to the spill site and was able to contain the spill to prevent further spread.

“The Joint Investigation Visit team led by government regulator will determine the cause of the spill and the impact, though there was an anonymous note found at the spill site suggesting sabotage,” he said.